How to Make a Simple Cladogram
A cladogram shows
evolutionary
relationships among
groups of organisms.
Shared characteristics
are listed below each
node (the point where
two branches meet).
Each node indicates a
common ancestor from
which different
organisms branched.
As you move up the
diagram, organisms
share fewer and fewer
characteristics.
In this activity, you
will use fruit to learn
how to make a simple
cladogram. Your
cladogram will not
show evolutionary
relationships among
the fruit. Instead, it
will simply compare
the observable
characteristics of the fruit. For this activity, you will need a
nectarine, kiwi, grapefruit, apple, lime or pictures of the
fruit.What you will do- Make tables like the ones shown to the right in your
notebook. - Examine the fruit. Next to each characteristic in Table 1,
list the fruit or fruits to which it applies.
3. Now fill in Table 2 below:
4. Use the characteristics in Table 1 and the values in
Table 2 to help you draw a cladogram for the fruit. Each
fruit can only be used once in your cladogram.
Applying your knowledge
a. Which fruit has all of the characteristics? Which fruit has
only one characteristic?
b. Give examples of three other characteristics that could
have been used for your cladogram. Would your
cladogram look different if other characteristics were
chosen?
c. Draw a cladogram using the following organisms:
paramecium, algae, mushroom, redwood tree, and cat.
You may need to review previous chapters of this text for
more information.Table 1: Fruit characteristics
Characteristic Fruits to which it applies
has a skin
smooth skin - not fuzzy
segments inside
green skin
multiple or no seeds insideTable 2: Fruit dataFruit Number of times it appears in Table 1
kiwi
nectarine
grapefruit
lime
apple